Produced by: Tarun Mishra
During the ongoing COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, discussions have focused heavily on food security, sustainability, and agriculture. Experts are stressing the urgent need for sustainable food systems to address global hunger, climate change, and food waste.
Masoumeh Ghasemi, representing a Turkey-based NGO, advocated for vegan diets as a more sustainable alternative to traditional food systems. She emphasized that plant-based diets could provide adequate nutrition while reducing environmental impact, highlighting the importance of switching to vegan food to combat the climate crisis.
The G20 Rio de Janeiro declaration revealed that 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, with women and children being the most affected groups. This statistic underscores the need for sustainable agriculture and efforts to improve food access.
At the summit, it was revealed that about 30% of global food production is wasted annually, equating to 2.1 billion tons of food by 2030. This food wastage contributes significantly to the global hunger crisis and environmental challenges.
Food wastage is estimated to cost $1.5 trillion annually. Additionally, it contributes 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, five times more than the aviation industry. This highlights the scale of food loss and its negative impact on both the economy and the environment.
Prasun Subedi, founder of the World Food Forum, pointed out the lack of infrastructure in the Global South as a major factor contributing to food wastage. Limited technological adoption, inadequate cold storage, and poor transportation systems exacerbate the issue, particularly in regions like South Asia.
Experts such as Olanrewaju Shasore, senior advisor at Sustainable Energy for All, discussed the importance of improving access to cooling systems in regions like Bangladesh. With one billion people facing challenges in food storage, this issue is critical for reducing waste and improving food security.
Amit Prothi, Director General of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, emphasized the need for resilient energy systems to power cold storage facilities, particularly in remote areas. Global stakeholders agreed that addressing food waste and ensuring food security requires strong financial commitments from developed nations to support infrastructure, technology, and vulnerable regions.